There are those that believe that cats belong outdoors, and then there are those who think that a cat is safer indoors. Cats, on the whole, prefer the outdoors, but there are a number of reasons why you may agree with the indoors only debate and choose not to allow your cat outdoors. This may be because you live in an area with busy roads. It could be that you’ve had a cat in the past, maybe more than once, that’s been killed or seriously injured by cars or even dogs. Possibly you live in an area where cats are mysteriously disappearing and no-one knows why. Or it could be that you have small children and believe that the cat has less chance of bringing infection into the house if it doesn’t get out amongst dirt and germs.
Whatever the reason is that makes you decide not to let your cat out, know that it’s not cruel for your cat, not matter what some people may tell you! It may be frustrating, especially for a cat that has at one time been an outdoors cat – perhaps you’ve taken in a stray, or re-homed a cat – to have to spend its time sitting at the window watching birds from a distance. These cats will show their displeasure vocally at first, but they will eventually settle. Kittens who have ever known the outdoors may try to get out but this will be more from curiosity than anything else – just as they try to get into cupboards and under beds.
Keeping a cat indoors means having to be extra vigilant about keeping outer doors shut tight and windows open on security locks so that they can only open an inch, not enough to allow even a skinny determined cat to squirm his way out! You need also to drill everyone in the house to check where the cat is before they open the front or back doors.
The main problem with having an indoors cat is that they have no road sense. Even a cat that used to be outdoors loses its sharpness and so the outdoors world is full of danger. This is why, having made the decision to keep your cat in, you must be committed to ensuring that it doesn’t then get out and be at even more risk than it would have been if it had always been allowed out and had learned street smarts!
Cats love to breathe fresh air, so lock your windows open a tiny bit so that they can inhale the outdoors whilst not actually being able to go outside, and every now and then bring them some fresh grass to eat, especially in the summer.
All cats are particular about their hygiene and they won’t go on a dirty litter tray – some of them won’t even use their tray twice, preferring to wait until it’s cleaned before they use it again. This means that if you are considering buying a cat as an indoor only cat you will need to budget financially for the cat litter, and also be prepared to keep the tray clean two or more times each day.
Indoor cats live long happy lives with few health problems but they do have poorer immune systems so if you know someone who has a sick cat with a contagious illness, keep them away from your cat – and wash your hands after you’ve been near their cat – to minimize the risk of transferring the disease to your cat.
The author of this post is Aaliyah Payne, she is a regular contibutor to Coffee Pop and Pathetic Cosmetic gossip and beauty news. Aaliyah is a noted specialist on the topic of laser tattoo removal clinic. View her blog here.
One of the most common gifts for a dog to get at that special time of year is a dog leash, and there are plenty of them on the market to choose from, but no matter how much you are tempted by your favourite colour or a designer brand the first thing that you need to ascertain is what type of dog leash is the right type for your dog.
If you’ve got a young small breed puppy, then you can get away with a light leash that’s either linked steel, leather or some kind of fabric material. If your puppy is a larger breed and has quite a bit of strength already, these kinds of leash are not going to be strong enough to trust when he starts pulling on it.
Most breeds can be walked safely using a retractable leash but make sure you get one that’s appropriate for your dog’s size. You may be able to buy a small one for your puppy but make sure that as he grows you purchase the next size up so that its always made to withstand his weight.
The strongest dog leashes are made of chain, and the thicker the chain, the larger heavier dog they are able to restrain (as long as you hold on, they should hold firm!) so again keep in mind that as your pooch grows, his leash will need to be renewed. If you’ve got a large dog you should also have a leash that’s not too long so that your dog has less chance of being able to pull away from you. The closer you are to your dog, the more your weight is able to block his.
Matching collars and leashes do look nice, but the purpose of the leash is to restrain your dog and make sure that he doesn’t create havoc or come to harm on a busy road. You may be able to match up a collar and leash of with a mix of chain and leather, but unless you’ve got a small designer dog, leave the neon pink leather straps to the celebrity dogs!
This entry was composed by Si Stevenson. Si is also one of the main writers on Idletymes and has written many different press releases on insurance dog.
Whilst he isn't able to actually speak to you in a language that you underStand, your Cat is communicating with you constantly thrOugh his body language and the sounds that he makes. The ways that your Cat uses, for example, his voice, eyes, whiskers, to communicate with you, and once you know how he does this, you’ll be able to understand a lot more about how your cat is feeling about things!
Voice
The verBal communication your Cat usEs will be in a serIes of mews, purRS, grOwls and hisses. Some cats arE morE "talkative" than otherS - for Example Siamese cats arE noted for Their VerBal interAction with both humans and other Animals.
A cat will usUally meow to get your Attention. This could be to illicit food, or FusS, or To alerT you that he needs some assistance. He will also mew whilst he plays with some prEy that he has caught.
If a cat is content and feels securE he will purR. If you arE ignorIng the mews that mean he rEquirEs food, your Cat will sometimes rEsorT to brIbing you by "making nice" and purRIng on your Lap!
A cat which feels thrEatened, insecurE or In danger, will hiss and grOwl at whatever Is crEating the prOblem. This is the way he alerTs you - or A possible attacker - that he is not happy with the situation. This forM of verBal communication is usUally a warNing which if not heeded will be followed by a physical attack.
If your Cat is usUally vocal but suddenly becomes quieter Or Sounds a little "hoarSe" then it could be a sign of a thrOat infection and will need checked out by your VeterInarY clinic.
Eyes
Your cat's eyes will rEflect his mood. If he’s staring at you, see what size his pupils are and you’ll be able to accurately gauge if he’s happy – or not!
Narrow pupils indicate that your cat is angry and not happy with his life.
Large pupils mean that he’s either frightened or Excited. If he’s happy and content however, his pupils will be darker than usual.
A cat usEs his eyes to communicate affection - if he sits starIng at you for A while, and then blinks slowly; this is a non-physical verSion of a kiss.
WhiskersAlthough not their PrImarY function, your Cat's whiskerS can tell you something about his mood. If the whiskers are relaxed and forward, all is right with the world and your cat is happy/content. On the other hand, if they are pushed backwards the cat is angrY/defensive. Once you know what to look for you’ll find that it’s easy to read the communication signs that your cat is sending out.
This article was written by Joanne Koekkoek-Weston, she is a contributor to Bored Tonight! And Harrynomics. Joanne is slowly becoming an authority on DiamondTome microdermabrasion clinic.
When you’re looking to buy a puppy, there are usually many of them looking for homes at animal shelters, and so if you have such a place near where you live, it’s worth taking a look to see if they’ve got the kind of puppy that you have in mind. You should note however that if you need some kind of paperwork for pedigree status, this probably won’t be available for any dog obtained through an animal shelter. If this isn’t something that you’re needing, there are still some things that you need to keep in mind before setting your heart on any particular puppy, and so it’s a good idea to check these out before you even look at what dogs are looking for homes – that way your head in still in command of the decision making process!
1. How does the shelter look? Is it well maintained? Is it clean, particularly where the dogs (and cats) are kept? What does it smell like?
2. What kind of attitude do the people who work there have? Are they enthusiastic about the fact you may take one of the dogs home? Does this seem out of genuine joy for the dog? Are they interested in telling you about the dogs they have that may be suitable for you? Do they know what the history of the dogs is – where they came from, any previous owners, etc? Are they willing to answer as many questions as you have or are you made to feel like you are a nuisance?
3. What kind of veterinary care do the dogs receive? This is particularly important in the case of puppies. Are the puppies kept separately from the older dogs or are they all old enough to have had, and been given, their appropriate vaccinations. Do all of the dogs get a medical check-up when they arrive at the shelter, or only when they are sick?
4. You probably don’t want to know about this, but unfortunately you need to find out the answer just in case – if something happens to your puppy as a result of the care, or lack thereof, that was sustained at the animal shelter, will they refund the money you paid?
Although most animal shelters are run on contributions and comply to any hygiene standards set down for such organizations, there are some which are less than satisfactory. If you are purchasing a larger or more mature dog, it can endure bad conditions for a short while without getting too many immediate health issues, but a puppy is more vulnerable.
Make sure you are satisfied about the standards of the animal shelter before taking a look at any suitable puppies they have. If you then decide to take one home you need to get it to a veterinary for a check-up as soon as possible so that any health problems arising from its time in the shelter can be identified and hopefully remedied.
This entry has been submitted by Samuel Hiles. Samuel is the main contributor on GlitsyDitszy and has written lots of different articles concerning sculptra face lift.
It’s estimated that more than 1 cat in every 500 is diabetic and that the numbers are rising, so if you’re a cat owner there are a number of symptoms that you should look out for to ensure that your cat doesn’t have a major health problem that’s going unattended.
The four main symptoms are not unlike those you would find in a human who was showing signs of diabetes:
- Drinking too much, constantly thirsty.
- Urinating more frequently, and in the case of a cat, not always in an appropriate place.
- More hungry than usual.
- Not much energy
The difference with a cat is that you won’t really pick up on the signs immediately unless your cat is older and you notice that these symptoms occur over time – you have a knowledge base of your cat’s usually behaviour to use as a source of reference. If you have a cat that has always been this way, then you can be forgiven for believing that this is just the cat’s nature – it’s a hungry, thirsty cat who isn’t much into exercise.
You should always have a weekly health check with your cat to ensure that it’s always in a good condition. The fact that your cat’s coat isn’t looking very healthy is something that you need to investigate, is it a nutrition thing, does your cat have fleas, have you skipped grooming it this week, is there any other reason you can think of that would make your cat’s coat dull? If not, think about the other diabetes symptoms and your cat’s life, Does your cat drink a lot, urinate a lot – sometimes with “accidents”, always hungry but never really wanting to run around, perhaps sleeping a lot?
If your cat fits into this pattern, then you need to contact your veterinary centre. Diabetes is dangerous for cats if left unattended as if they get to a stage where they go into a coma, it’s not always possible to save them. Once diagnosed however, like humans they can live a seemingly normal life – you’ll have to watch their nutrition and exercise, plus you may need to administer medication depending on the status of the diabetes, but other than that your cat will be fine.
This article was submitted by Joeanne Belfitt, she is a regular contibutor to O.P.K.M. . Joeanne is building up herself up as a online specialist on microdermabrasion london. View her blog here.
The American Bobtail is relatively new breed. It has been around since the 1960ies. The obvious Bobtail characteristic is the stubby, almost non-existent tail. Where the breed originated from is still unknown. The oldest known Bobtail bloodline sprung from the mating between a short-tailed orange tabby male named Yodie and a seal point Siamese female.
Many of these early bloodlines have been thinned out over the years. The current American Bobtail comes in all colors and sizes. The most common goal is to breed a cat that is domesticated, good natured, and loving cat that still has the wild look of the bobcat. The sometimes completely tail-less Manx cat is believed to be the ancestor of the American Bobtail.
Some unofficial studies have shown that American Bobtails are playful, energetic, friendly, and possess quite a talent for escapes enclosed environments. They show a people oriented side, but don't appear to be too possessive, however curiosity gets the better of them sometimes.
If you are away from home for longer periods of time, you should make sure that there are plenty of toys available to keep your cat's mentally stimulated to keep him out of trouble. Even though this breed is very sociable, you may also want to add a second cat to the Due to the fact that these cats, as most other cats, are very sociable, you might want to consider adding a second cat to the household, if you do not already have a multiple cat household.
When the Bobtail was first discovered, the breed had a few health problems, which however have been bred out of the Bobcat for the most part. These days, the American Bobtail is a strong and proud breed.
The outgoing temperament and friendly personality makes the American Bobtail a perfect choice for families. If you work with your kitten from a young age on, you should be looking forward to having a friend and family member for life.
American Bobtails come in a long haired and short haired version. Both kinds have to be groomed on regular basis to prevent hair balls. Although the longhair coat does not tangle easily, you may need to groom your longhair Bobtail more frequently. If you teach your kitten that grooming can be fun while she is still young, she will grow to enjoy the attention.
This article was written by Joanne Weeks, she is also a author on Harrynomics and Rafaelmea vitali. Joanne is fast becoming an authority on sculptra face lift birmingham. View her blog here.